Parents rely on child support to meet their children’s essential needs. Missed payments can create significant stress and jeopardize a child’s well-being.
Fortunately, several enforcement tools exist to help ensure child support obligations are met in Washington. Learning more can help you respond effectively if payments stop or if you are having trouble making court-ordered payments.
How child support orders are enforced
Washington takes child support obligations seriously and uses the following methods to secure payment.
- Wage withholding to collect support from a parent’s paycheck and send it to the receiving parent.
- Bank account garnishment allows funds to be taken from financial accounts when payments fall behind.
- Tax refund interception redirects federal or state refunds to cover unpaid support.
- License suspension affects the paying parent’s driving, occupational or recreational licenses until payments resume.
For serious or repeated nonpayment of child support, judges may issue contempt findings. Potential consequences include fines, make-up payment schedules or jail time in severe cases.
The purpose of these tools is to encourage consistent compliance with support-related orders.
When the DCS becomes involved
The Division of Child Support can take action when payments stop or fall behind by issuing notices, creating payment plans or implementing administrative enforcement methods. Many parents find that DCS involvement may help resolve issues more quickly. However, legal representation is important when DCS becomes involved.
Skilled guidance helps ensure the receiving parent understands DCS procedures. On the other side of the coin, it also helps a parent struggling to meet their obligations navigate and resolve enforcement actions as favorably as possible.
Whether you are not receiving child support or are facing harsh enforcement actions, waiting too long to act can worsen matters for you and your child.
